Several of us have eczema, and we’re sensitive to many commercial lotions. This recipe is really helpful for itchy skin, as well as cracked summer-in-the-desert heels. I give it to family members in the Pacific Northwest, and they say it works well for chapped winter-in-Oregon hands also.

1 3/4 cups tallow (I buy this at Echo and Rig in Las Vegas)
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup beeswax
1/4 cup cocoa butter

Melt all of these in the microwave. (I put them in a big pyrex pitcher.) The tallow and coconut oil melt quickly but the other two will take a while. While you are waiting for them to melt, get your containers ready on the counter, and be sure you have room for them in your fridge.

Stir the oils together. They will be very hot.

Add
2 teaspoons tea tree essential oil
3 teaspoons lavender essential oil
Sometimes I add 1 teaspoon frankincense oil.

Place containers in the fridge immediately so they that will solidify without separating.

This makes about 5 small containers of lotion.

Important:  this lotion contains no preservatives. It will smell lovely and fresh for about a month. After that, the lotion will work just as well, but the tallow fragrance will take over, and it will smell like beef stew. However, the lotion will stay perfectly fresh for at least 6 months in the fridge. That’s why I make it in small containers. I can keep one on my nightstand, and use it up within a month. The other containers stay in the fridge until needed.